By Emelia B. Addae
Koforidua, Oct. 2, GNA – The Centre for Democratic Development-Ghana (CDD-Ghana), with support from the British High Commission, has trained Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and community representatives to deepen citizens’ participation in the ongoing constitutional review process.
The training, under the Citizens Platform on Constitutional Reforms (CPCR), sought to equip CSOs and community representatives with the knowledge and skills to engage citizens and enable them to contribute meaningfully to the work of the Constitutional Review Committee.
Addressing participants in Koforidua, Mr Frederick Adu-Gyamfi, Director of Programmes and Operations at CDD-Ghana, said the constitutional review should not be left to policymakers and experts but must become a national, citizen-led conversation.
He said informed citizen participation was crucial to helping the public understand the issues and make informed decisions, particularly if a referendum was required to give effect to proposed reforms.
Mr Adu-Gyamfi described the initiative as a “training of trainers,” saying that while the initial sessions were held in Accra, the programme was being extended to the regions to broaden public participation.
He urged participants to take the knowledge acquired to their communities, networks and districts to sustain discussions on the constitutional review.
Nana Yaw Akuamoah, Eastern Regional Focal Coordinator of the CPCR, said the platform would engage communities through radio programmes and citizen forums, including discussions at churches, information centres and marketplaces.
He said the engagements would be conducted in local languages to help citizens understand the issues and freely express their views on the proposed reforms.
Nana Akuamoah said the platform had expressed views on several constitutional issues, including the proposed extension of presidential and parliamentary terms from four to five years.
He said while the Government had accepted the proposal for a five-year term, the CSOs believed the current four-year term was sufficient.
The platform, he said, supported the existing two-term presidential limit and opposed any attempt to allow a President to serve a third term.
On Parliament, Nana Akuamoah said the platform had proposed separating the roles of Members of Parliament (MPs) and ministers to enable MPs to concentrate on their legislative responsibilities while ministers focused on their ministerial duties.
The platform had also proposed a review of restrictions on dual citizens contesting parliamentary elections, arguing that Ghanaians who legitimately acquired foreign citizenship should be given the opportunity to contribute to national development.
Nana Akuamoah said an implementation committee was already considering the various views and urged citizens to use the platforms created to contribute to the constitutional review process.
“This is not about being a lawyer or attending law school. It is about our Constitution, and every citizen should be involved,” he said.
Mr Ebenezer Akotsen Mensah, a participant from NETCODA Ghana, thanked the organisers for deepening participants’ understanding of the constitutional review process.
He said the training would enable participants to communicate the issues effectively in local languages and facilitate informed discussions on proposed constitutional reforms in their communities.
GNA
Edited by D. I. Laary/Bertha Badu-Agyei/Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Reporter: Emelia B. Addae
Email: [email protected]